We use them to make everything feel natural, to signify the outdoors and to bring a little of the outside, in – but how eco-friendly are your wedding florals really? Have you put any thought into where they came from, how you’ll be using them, or what will happen to them when your wedding is over? Considering the whole lifecycle really is the key!
Here are 5 things to look out for to ensure your wedding flowers really are looking out for the earth.
One.
Are they locally grown? Or do they have insane amounts of travel miles attached to them before they even make it to your wedding venue? You might be surprised just how far some flowers have travelled.
Two.
Are they seasonal? Flowers produced out of season will either have travelled a very long way or have been grown in an artificial environment. I’m not saying all hot-houses are bad! but in some cases a lot of energy is required to produce out-of-season flowers and that energy is not alwasy the cleanest…
Three.
Are your floral arrangements and installations single-use? Will you be using them once and then throwing them away? Or are you dragging every last cent out of those beauties? Try re-using arch pieces as a reception entrance feature, or placing bouquets from the ceremony into vases on tables. Maybe you’d like to look into having some of them pressed or dried so you can keep them or gift them. Or maybe you’ll donate the fresh flowers to a local community group who could do with a thank you or a bit of cheering up.
Four.
What rubbish has gone into the creation of your florals? Sounds a silly question doesn’t it… but many arrangements are made using very wasteful materials like foams, tapes and single-use strands of wire. Look for a florist who specialises in eco-friendly arrangements and if there isn’t one in your area, have a chat with the florists you do have available to see what eco-friendly techniques they may be willing to try out to reduce that waste!
Five.
Avoid chemically treated or dyed florals like your life depends on it! I know bleaching took off for a bit there (I’m saying it in the past tense out of hope more than anything) but not only are these potentially toxic (if not to you, then possibly to those creating them in sub-par conditions) but they’re also unable to be composted so when you’re done with them… well… in the rubbish they go. Not sounding particularly sustainable are they?
What kinds of flowers will you be featuring in your wedding??
Let me know in the comments!
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Emerald and Ebony – Planning Eco-friendly weddings in Taranaki and beyond.